Two indicted for stealing checks from nonprofit, businesses

Two were indicted this week for their roles in a conspiracy to cash checks from stolen mail, including from the mailboxes of a local nonprofit and two businesses.

D.J. Gideon, 25, of Republic, and Katelyn Emrick, 21, of Ava, were charged in a 47-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Springfield, according to a news release from the office of Tammy Dickinson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Gideon and Emrick allegedly participated in a bank fraud conspiracy between June 18, 2015, and Nov. 6, 2015, that attempted to obtain over $40,000 from victims’ bank accounts via stolen mail from businesses and residences. The two allegedly altered the checks with new information and forged signatures.

Checks were stolen from the mailboxes of Springfield Muscular Dystrophy Association, as well as Appleberry's Concrete in Greene County and Real Farm Foods in Wright County and several individuals, according to the indictment.

Gideon and Emrick were charged together with:
    •    seven counts of bank fraud;
    •    seven counts of mail fraud;
    •    seven counts of making, possessing or cashing forged checks; and
    •    one count of aggravated identity theft.

Additionally, Gideon is charged individually with five counts of bank fraud, four counts of mail theft, four counts of making, possessing or cashing forged checks, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Emrick is charged separately with three counts of bank fraud, three counts of mail theft, three counts of making, possessing or cashing forged checks, and one count of aggravated identity theft, according to the release.